5E News 1

5E NEWS Jan. 30, 2015

100 Days of Loving School!

Prairieland students celebrated the 100th day of school today, which means we participated in the annual hundred seconds of silence after the first 100 minutes of school and when 100 minutes of school were left – every teacher’s favorite part of this day, I’m sure.

A Quick Reminder…

***Don’t forget that we are still collecting Box

Tops for Education. Just send them to school in

a baggie with your child.

Young Author Story & President Report!

Yes, the Young Author deadline was today, so I hope your child turned his or her book in on time. Now the students are researching presidents and learning how to cite sources.

Recent Exams This week students took a social studies

exam over the Revolutionary War, and a science test covering body systems. There was also a geometry test from last week that should have come home on Monday. The science exam should have arrived home on Friday for your signature, and the social studies test should have showed up for your perusal on Thursday. After reviewing on Monday, the students had the opportunity to vote on which test they felt more ready for, so the order of the exams was switched from last week’s plan.

What We Are Doing: Math: Since we wrapped up unit 3 on geometry with a test last Friday, we have been honing our measurement skills this week by determining the perimeter, area, volume, circumference, and surface area of various figures. Next week we will begin our new unit that focuses on pre-algebra skills. The students continue to develop their math communications and problem solving abilities as they detail their strategies and reasoning each morning during our problem solving time. Science: After first reviewing and conducting another nutrient experiment, this one on fats, students finally took their final anatomy exam over the material in chapter 3. Then, to wrap up our anatomy focus, the class dissected owl pellets and attempted to recreate the skeleton of the owl’s last meal. Next week we will begin looking at Earth’s changing surface. Social Studies: Now that we have learned all about how the American colonists won their independence, we need to explore the government they created. You should have seen the Revolutionary War test come home for your signature on Thursday, and we are now looking at the Articles of Confederation, our first attempt at a government. Next week we will continue with our government unit as we focus on the events of the Constitutional Convention. Reading: We have spent this week wrapping up our literature circle groups and examining some nonfiction using Scholastic News and MobyMax. The students will continue to analyze nonfiction briefly next week before we begin new literature circle groups so that students can enjoy various mystery books. Language / Writing: Of course, students composed expository papers about this week’s V.I.P., Sophie Kurdys, and developed short selections on “TV shows” for the Flying Horse. While writing, we especially focused on comma usage and incorporating homophones correctly. In addition, students are still collecting information on presidents as they learned how to cite book sources. Spelling: This week our Words Their Way groups sorted and analyzed words that focused on homophones, an/en/on/ain endings, number prefixes, and verb suffixes.

5E News 2

Important Upcoming Dates

and events

Mon., Feb. 9 PIECE meeting (6:30)

Wed., Feb. 11 Late Start (9:45)

Fri., Feb. 13 Valentine Day party

(2:45-3:30)

Mon., Feb. 16 NO SCHOOL –

Presidents’ Day

Tues., Feb. 17 NO SCHOOL – School

Improvement Day

If you have any questions or concerns,

please feel free to contact me at home or at

school. My home number is 663-8001, the school

number is 557-4424, and my school email address

is elstonjr@unit5.org. For any homework

questions, you may want to check out our

classroom website!

Mrs. Elston

Revolutionary War novels